Painted portrait on a canvas
Portrait painting is one of the most challenging types of art to execute successfully. Portraiture is difficult because the high standards to which artists hold themselves. usually dictates that portraits must look exactly like the person painted. Avoid portrait-painting jitters by starting off with a good plan and the confidence to carry your portrait through to the end.
Instructions
1. Gather your painting materials and set up your canvas. Try to anticipate everything you will need before calling your subject into your painting studio. Jars of water or turpentine, paint brushes, canvas, paper, pencils, rags, a palette, paint, an easel and a smock are just a few of the items you may require while painting.
2. Arrange your subject. Your subject should be comfortable and in a position that can be held for a long time. Do not place any extremities (arms or legs) above the level of your subject's heart. For added flexibility, use artificial lighting instead of natural lighting. Mark the position of your subject's body with chalk, so the subject can return to that position later on.
3. Draw a few studies of your subject to varying degrees of detail. These drawings should include a "gesture" drawing--in other words, a drawing that focuses primarily on the larger features of your subject and the distribution of the subject's weight. You should also draw a slightly more detailed drawing of your subject to familiarize yourself with your subject's features.
4. Draw the subject on the canvas. Do not include major details, only the outline of the body and face, the most basic parts of the subject's clothing and the placement of the eyes, nose and mouth. Use "mapping lines" (horizontal and vertical lines placed on the face and body of the subject to show the central axes) to place the features symmetrically on the body.
5. Paint the first layer of paint on the canvas or paper. This first layer should be a thin wash, quickly applied, without details or shading to indicate fullness of form. Shading and details will be added as the painting advances. Look back and forth between the subject and the painting many times as you do this to ensure that you are on track.
